SEMINOLE
Proposed city budget calls for raises, more neighborhood patrols
The city's proposed $17.4 million budget for fiscal year 2018-19 shows a 2.7 percent increase over this year and includes $8.9 million for fire services, $3 million in administrative costs and $1.8 million for public works operations. Another $1.8 million is allocated for law enforcement, a 3 percent increase that will beef up neighborhood patrol and help with traffic monitoring.
It also includes 3 percent raises for eligible employees as well as just over $37,000 in donations to charities and community organizations, including $20,000 to the Seminole Chamber of Commerce, $3,000 to Neighborly Senior Services, and $2,500 each to Catholic Charities and Pinellas Safe Harbor.
Administrators will bring a proposed property tax rate to City Council members this month but expect it to be in line with this year's rate of $2.48 for every $1,000 of assessed taxable value.
A first reading of the budget, open for public comment, is scheduled for Sept. 12; a second reading is scheduled for Sept. 26. The fiscal year starts Oct. 1.
NORTH REDINGTON BEACH
New system for handling variance requests
Rather than a board of residents, the town will now have a magistrate decide on variance requests.
St. Petersburg lawyer James Denhardt will serve as magistrate along with an as-yet unnamed alternate. Denhardt has a track record of serving local municipalities in different capacities, including that of special magistrate in Madeira Beach and city/town attorney in Redington Shores and Treasure Island.
"Magistrates are a lot more familiar with the process (than the Planning and Zoning Board)," said town attorney Jay Daigneault. He explained that one problem with having residents on a zoning board make decisions on variances is the residual bad feelings between neighbors.
SEMINOLE
A panel will decide how to mark the city's 50th
Just two years away from the Seminole's 50th anniversary, the City Council has decided to create a citizen advisory committee to determine how to celebrate.
The council told city staff at a recent meeting to invite the seven members of the Recreation Advisory Board to join this 50th anniversary committee. Each council member will also suggest up to three individuals they would like to appoint.
The council will pare these suggestions down to seven appointees to join the recreation board members.
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH
City to enforce commercial activity on beaches
The city is looking for a way to better regulate commercial activity on the beach. Though city code prohibits commercial activity on the public beaches, this isn't regularly enforced, City Manager Brently Gregg Mims recently told city commissioners.
As a result, in recent months, the city has received "some negative feedback" regarding commercial activity on the beach, particularly about for-profit exercise and yoga classes, he said. Mims said that, as city manager, he is able to grant temporary use permits for events that draw more than 50 people. For smaller events, no permit is required.
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Explore all your optionsThe commission directed Mims to survey other communities on how they handle this matter and draft an ordinance to tweak the code to allow the city to more easily police commercial activity on the beach. This could include requiring permits and business licenses, Mims said.
In the meantime, the commission directed Mims to issue violation notices to anyone breaking the current code.
MADEIRA BEACH
Officials may ease rules on home improvements
The city is making it easier for owners of properties that do not conform to the housing code to make improvements.
The changes were proposed by Planning and Zoning Director Linda Portal, who said nonconforming properties, mostly small houses built on small lots, are common in older areas. In some neighborhoods, she said, "almost every home has a setback encroachment."
The city's housing code has made it difficult for those people to make any improvements, Portal said. The changes ease some of those requirements and approval procedures.
Portal cited a case where a property owner wants to add a small bedroom to a small house. "There is no way to build this addition unless this ordinance passes," she said.
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH
Many businesses going strawless
In an effort to reduce the effect of plastic straws on the environment, The IRB Neighborhood Newsletter and several restaurants, cafes and bars of Indian Rocks Beach have decided to "Go Strawless."
Participating businesses are abstaining from giving out plastic straws unless requested by a customer.
Newsletter publisher and civic activist Bob Griffin said all 25 restaurants and bars in Indian Rocks Beach were contacted and nearly all have agreed to the request.
The program is similar to one in Clearwater, spurred by that city's Environmental Advisory Board.
>Compiled by correspondent Donna Winchester, Tampa Bay Newspapers editor Tom Germond and TBN correspondents Jeannie Carlson, Tiffany Razzano and Wayne Ayers.>